Year: 2025

April 17, 2025

New York, NY (United States)

Deep Tech Forum + Startup Showcase in NYC
From Cost Center to Strategic Growth: How Deep Tech Is Transforming Manufacturing for the Sustainable Economy

Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Location: Brooklyn Navy Yard, Building 303, 9th Floor
Co-hosted by: Monozukuri Ventures & New York Robotics

We’re excited to announce that Deep Tech Forum NYC 2025 Fall will return on September 23, hosted at the iconic Brooklyn Navy Yard — New York’s anchor for advanced manufacturing and robotics innovation.

This year’s forum features a dual-track format, with both the main conference and startup showcase taking place on the same floor of Building 303, offering a seamless environment for networking, dialogue, and discovery.

🥂 Invite-Only Demo Day + Reception – Monday, September 22

An invitation-only investor demo day and networking reception will be held at Hudson Yards, hosted by Monozukuri Ventures. 10–15 selected startups from the Showcase will pitch to 80 curated guests from the investor and corporate partner community.

Why Strategic Manufacturing Must Be Redefined — Now

Sustainability can no longer be treated as a compliance cost — in 2025, energy is a strategic resource. The explosive growth of generative AI and digital infrastructure is outpacing global energy supply, driving electricity prices up and prompting tech giants to invest in power plants, nuclear fusion, and energy-efficient systems.

This shift is a wake-up call for manufacturers. To stay competitive, companies must reduce total energy usage across the entire value chain — from production to logistics — not just for emissions targets, but for cost control, resilience, and long-term viability.

Deep Tech Forum will bring together the founders, technologies, and corporate leaders driving this transformation — and showcase where the future of manufacturing is already taking shape.

What to Expect

Deep Tech Forum NYC
Mainstage programming exploring how robotics, automation, and decarbonization technologies are transforming manufacturing, logistics, and supply chains from cost centers into strategic growth engines.

Deep Tech Startup Showcase
A curated exhibition of 50–100 startups from the U.S., Japan, Europe, and beyond — in fields such as robotics, advanced materials, manufacturing automation, and energy. Participating ecosystem partners include SOSV (HAX & IndieBio), Newlab, and New York Robotics.

Why Brooklyn Navy Yard?
BNY is home to over 500 industrial innovators — including Newlab, and startups like Nanotronics, which evolved from Newlab into its own 45,000 sq ft AI-driven chip fab facility. BNY exemplifies NYC’s transformation into a global hub for next-generation manufacturing and energy-smart innovation.

Register for Event on September 23, 2025

This isn’t just another panel event — it’s where startups, corporates, and capital collide to shape the future of industry.

(Images above for illustration only)

Held during UN’s General Assembly (September 9 – 23), this gathering will bring together global investors, corporate innovation leaders, and deep tech founders — all working at the frontier of a sustainable industrial future.

More details coming soon — including speaker lineups, program highlights, and how to get involved.

Registration

February 1, 2025

Yokohama, Kanagawa (Japan)

Deep Tech Forum Yokohama

Deep Tech Forum Yokohama 2025 is a global gathering of deep tech innovators, startups, and industry leaders focused on advanced manufacturing, climate tech, and industrial innovation. The event will explore how Japan’s cutting-edge manufacturing ecosystem connects with global deep tech ecosystems to drive new collaborations.

This year’s edition will feature thought-provoking discussions, startup showcases, and strategic networking designed to foster international partnerships and business opportunities.

📌 Keynote Speaker: Christopher Romans

Christopher Romans, a former Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Department of State and Senior Manager for Government Relations at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, brings deep expertise in energy policy, industrial transformation, and U.S.-Japan cooperation.

In his keynote “Urban Transformation in Houston: What Japanese Cities & Corporations Can Learn”, he will explore Houston’s rapid urban transformation, energy transition strategies, and the lessons Japanese industries can apply to drive sustainable growth and innovation.

📌 What to Expect at Deep Tech Forum Yokohama 2025

  • Cutting-edge discussions on advanced manufacturing, climate tech, and cross-border deep tech collaboration
  • Keynote by Christopher Romans, offering insights into global urban transformation strategies
  • Panel discussions featuring deep tech investors, startups, and corporate innovators exploring new business models and partnerships Reverse pitches by leading Japanese corporations, highlighting their open innovation needs and potential collaboration opportunities
  • Networking sessions, connecting Japanese industry leaders with international deep tech startups and investors

📌 Event Details

📍 Location: TECH HUB YOKOHAMA (Map)

📅 Date & Time: March 7, 2025 | 13:00 – 18:30 JST (Doors open at 12:30)

📍 Agenda 
12:30 PM – Attendee Check-In & Networking
1:00 PM – Opening Remarks
– Sabrina Sasaki, Principal, Monozukuri Ventures
1:10 PM – Keynote: Urban Transformation in Houston – What Japanese Cities & Corporations Can Learn
– Christopher Romans, Former Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State / Former Senior Manager, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America
1:40 PM – JERA Special Presentation: The Future of Energy Transition
– Shuji Munekuni, Head of the JERA Global Institute, JERA Co., Inc.
2:00 PM – Panel Discussion: Implications for GX Strategies of Japanese Companies
– Moderator: Emi Makino, Associate Professor, College of International Management, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
– Panelists: Christopher Romans and Shuji Munekuni
2:50 PM – Break
3:10 PM – Fireside Chat: Future of Deep Tech in Japan
– Masamichi Ando, Vice President, Business Incubation Center, Corporate Technology & Business Development Unit, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
– Tomoya Yamashiki, Venture Partner, Monozukuri Ventures
4:30 PM – Special Presentation: Transition of AI Application: From Large-Scale DX to Small Business Improvements
– Shunsuke Kobayashi, Macnica
4:45 PM – Special Presentation: Tech x Prototyping–The Power to Make Innovation a Reality
– Jinto Horie, Nichinan Group
5:00 PM – Fireside Chat: Future of TECH HUB YOKOHAMA
– Kevin Ninomiya, ShibuLA Ventures
– Kazuo Nagasaki, City of Yokohama
5:10 PM – Deep Tech & Open Innovation – The Global Perspective
– Mai Yokomizo, Monozukuri Ventures
5:25 PM – Closing Remarks
– Narimasa Makino, Monozukuri Ventures
5:30 PM – Networking Reception

🔗 Event Details & Registration (in Japanese)

Supporting Organizations and Sponsors

Organizer: Monozukuri Ventures, a deep tech seed investor in North America and Japan, dedicated to supporting and scaling deep tech startups globally.

Support: Office of the City of Yokohama, advancing global innovation by bridging industries, fostering partnerships, and supporting collaboration between Japanese and international organizations.

Sponsors: Macnica, Nichinan Group and TEL Venture Capital

January 28, 2025

Japan innovation: From research to Reality

Join us at Deep Tech Forum Boston to meet top researchers from Japan as they turn cutting-edge research into real-world ventures. These visionary innovators are seeking investors, partners, and collaborators to bring their technologies to the global market.

📅 Date: February 13, 2025
📍 Location: Boston area, MA

🔹 Discover pioneering technologies from Japan’s leading universities
🔹 Connect with researchers shaping the future of deep tech
🔹 Explore investment and collaboration opportunities

Register for Event

Meet the Innovators

Maya-mind® – AI-Driven Dementia Diagnostics

Dr. Gajanan Revankar, Osaka University

A mobile health platform using AI to identify dementia subtypes and support early intervention.

ROP Prediction Software – Preventing Child Blindness

Dr. Motoshi Sobue, Nara Institute of Science and Technology

A non-invasive software solution predicting the progression of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in newborns.

Thermal Management for an Energy-Efficient Society

Dr. Jun Hirotani, Kyoto University

Developing nanomaterial-based thermal management solutions to improve energy efficiency.

Next-Gen Photodynamic Therapy for Eye Diseases

Dr. Tatsuya Murakami, Toyama Prefecture University

Advancing photodynamic therapy with innovative drug delivery for macular degeneration treatment.

About KSAC – Kansai Startup Acceleration Center

KSAC is a leading platform dedicated to building a world-class startup ecosystem in the Kansai region of Japan. With over 80 institutions from academia, industry, and finance, KSAC fosters university-based startups and supports their global expansion.

Register for Event
January 9, 2025

Deep Tech Forum NYC Highlights Japan-U.S. Innovation Synergies – New York City Hosts “Unlocking Japan’s Potential for Global Growth” on January 22-23, 2025

New York, NY — The Deep Tech Forum NYC 2025, organized by Monozukuri Ventures, is set to take place on January 22-23, 2025. This year marks a pivotal moment for the event, as it focuses exclusively on collaboration with Japan, featuring Japanese corporate venture capital (CVC) teams, startups, and innovation leaders alongside New York’s vibrant tech ecosystem. Co-hosted by the New York Robotics Network, the forum seeks to connect global thought leaders, investors, and corporations in deep tech innovation.

“New York is quickly establishing itself as a key hub for deep tech, connecting ecosystems across the globe. Events like the Deep Tech Forum are instrumental in fostering international collaboration with countries like Japan and beyond,” said Jacob Hennessey-Rubin, Executive Director of New York Robotics Network. With New York’s emergence as a global tech center, the city serves as the perfect backdrop for discussions on international innovation partnerships.

Event Highlights – Day 1: Conference Day

Held at Cornell Tech on January 22,  Day 1 will spotlight the potential of Japan-U.S. collaboration, offering:

  • Keynote Address: Julie Samuels, President and CEO of Tech:NYC, will deliver the keynote speech, titled “New York’s Rise: From Entrepreneurial City to Global Tech Hub.” Drawing on her extensive experience in fostering tech entrepreneurship and shaping New York’s thriving tech ecosystem, Julie will discuss how New York has emerged as a leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship and its growing role in driving global collaboration and transformative innovation.
  • Panel Discussion: The session will explore Why Venture Capitalists View Japan as a Prime Market” and share strategies for startups to succeed in the Japanese ecosystem. This engaging discussion will be moderated by Jeffrey W. Smith, General Partner at SIP Global Partners, a venture firm based in Tokyo and Boston. Local deep tech VCs will join as panelists.
  • Japanese CVC Pitches: Presentations by leading Japanese corporate venture capital teams focused on robotics and climate technology.
  • Networking Reception: Facilitating connections among global thought leaders, innovators, and corporate executives.

Day 1, which focuses on collaboration with Japan, is presented by the Consulate General of Japan in New York. This is the first time the Deep Tech Forum has featured Japan so prominently, despite being organized by a Japanese VC firm. As Nobuhiro Seki, Founding Partner of Monozukuri Ventures, explains, “This event underscores Japan’s role as a gateway for global business expansion, especially in robotics, AI, and manufacturing.”

Many Japanese companies hold dominant market shares in specific verticals, giving them a unique advantage in reaching global markets—yet this potential often remains a hidden gem for startups. At the same time, collaborating with Japanese companies can be challenging due to cultural differences, which are not always easy to navigate. However, with the Japanese government’s active efforts to foster entrepreneurship and attract foreign investment, interest from American VCs in the Japanese market is steadily growing. “With its international reach,” Seki adds, “New York is the best place to host a dialogue that bridges these gaps and highlights these transformative opportunities.”

Day 2: Exclusive Visits to NYC’s Innovation Hubs

On January 23, attendees will have the unique opportunity to explore some of New York City’s premier innovation hubs, including Newlab and HAX, with additional locations to be confirmed. These hubs represent the cutting edge of deep tech innovation and offer valuable networking opportunities with startups and thought leaders.

  • Newlab, located in Brooklyn’s iconic Navy Yard, supports entrepreneurs and technologists working on impactful solutions in robotics, AI, and other frontier technologies. Attendees will meet with innovative startups and learn about their groundbreaking projects.
  • HAX, an accelerator program backed by SOSV, focuses on hardware and deep tech startups. Known for its emphasis on rapid prototyping and scaling, HAX is a launchpad for companies shaping the future of industries such as manufacturing and healthcare. Participants will engage directly with founders and explore their journeys.

Logistics and Participation Details for Day 2:

  • A chartered bus will provide transportation between the hubs, ensuring convenient travel for all participants.
  • Networking sessions at each location will allow attendees to connect with startups and innovators.
  • Participation Fee: Estimated at $100 per person to cover transportation and logistics.
    Sign up at https://lu.ma/ujmzo6ug to receive an invoice. Payment is required to confirm your attendance.

This exclusive tour expands on the insights from Day 1, offering hands-on exposure to NYC’s vibrant tech ecosystem and the chance to foster deeper collaborations with local innovators. Spots are limited, so early registration is encouraged!

Expanding the Deep Tech Forum Series

Following the NYC event, the Deep Tech Forum continues its mission to foster global collaboration with upcoming forums:

  • Boston (February 13, 2025): Exploring innovation in bio, life sciences, and medical technology. More details here.
  • Yokohama, Japan (March 7, 2025): Highlighting advancements in Japan’s deep tech ecosystem and fostering cross-border partnerships.
  • NYC (September 2025): Exploring cutting-edge innovations in climate technology, urban sustainability, and future mobility during Climate Week NYC. 

Reflecting on the forum’s growth, Nobuhiro Seki shared, “2024 was a successful year for the Deep Tech Forum, and we are thrilled to expand to new strategic locations like Boston and Yokohama in 2025. Looking ahead, we’re considering hosting future forums in cities such as the Great Lakes region, Austin, and LA to continue driving innovation globally.”

About the Deep Tech Forum

The Deep Tech Forum, founded by Monozukuri Ventures, is a platform dedicated to fostering partnerships between investors, startups, and corporations in the deep tech ecosystem. By connecting innovators across borders, the forum drives impactful collaborations that accelerate innovation and create a sustainable future.

Join Us

For more details and registration, visit Deep Tech Forum NYC 2025.

Media Contact

Sabrina Sasaki, Monozukuri Ventures, [email protected]